Scotland are likely to appoint an interim successor to Andy Robinson for the 2013 Six Nations, according to Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson.

Robinson left his post in charge of the Scotland team in the aftermath of their shock 21-15 loss to Tonga on November 24. With the Six Nations just under three months away, the SRU is facing a race against time to find a permanent successor for Robinson.

"We have already received a number of applications for the job," Dodson said in The Scotsman. "We are reviewing these as well as looking at home and abroad for the best candidate to take Scotland forward to the Rugby World Cup.

"We have the Six Nations just round the corner and, given the timescales involved, we are looking at the possibility of an interim appointment as we don't want to rush into making the decision. The most important thing we can do is get someone in to take the team forward for the long term."

Scott Johnson is seemingly in pole position for the interim role as he is currently contracted to the SRU. He took up the attack coach position in the summer and has held a head coach post before - both at Wales and the United States Eagles. Ex-Glasgow Warriors coach Sean Lineen, now in a talent recruitment role with the SRU, is also a possible candidate.

"I have not had a chance to speak to the officials, but I intend to in the next week or so," Johnson said. "That will decide where I am placed in the job and if the job suits me, and if it suits them for me to take it.

"I am secure in the fact that I have come here for a couple of years and I have only just started. There are plenty of good things in Scotland and plenty of hard working rugby people and there are plenty of good players. We need to start developing a game that suits us to play."